Pages

November 17, 2014

Schaake's questions on the case of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in Iran

On October 9, Member of the
European Parliament Marietje Schaake (D66/ALDE) submitted questions to High
Representative Ashton on the case of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in Iran. Please find
a plain text version and the official document below.

The case of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in IranAccording to recent reports in Iranian media, Ayatollah
Boroujerdi faces eminent threats in Iran, although these reports are difficult
to verify given the lack of (media) freedom in Iran. [1]

The Shia cleric has called for a separation of religion and
state.

Boroujerdi was arrested in 2006 and convicted one year later for
‘enmity with God’ and ‘spreading propaganda against the regime’.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi has accused the Supreme Leader of Iran of
‘extensive violation of human rights in Iran. 30 years ago the Iranian people
were deceived into believing that the Islamic regime was going to be based on
independence, freedom, republicanism, and piety. But now people no longer want
to maintain this political system’.

Recently another individual, Amir Aslani, was executed for
having a different interpretation of Islam than the Islamic Republic’s
interpretation.

UN Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed concluded in his report that
there is no improvement in the human rights situation in Iran, and counted 825
executions last year.

1) Can the HR/VP inquire about the whereabouts, sentence and
health situation of Ayatollah Boroujerdi?

2) What concrete actions is the HR/VP undertaking to free
political prisoners, and to improve the human rights situation in Iran?